Latest news with #waitinglist
ABC News
5 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Patient who waited over 200 days for surgery disappointed with no response from health minister
A patient who waited over 200 days for surgery at Sydney's largest hospital says he is disheartened that he has not received any follow-up from NSW Health Minister Ryan Park since his story was made public. Joshua Maxwell was booked in for an elective open-heart surgery at Westmead Hospital in May 2024, after his body started rejecting medication needed to keep him stroke-free. His surgeon classified him as a category two patient, meaning his surgery should have taken place within 90 days. His surgeon assured him it should not take longer than 45 days. As he waited for his surgery date, Mr Maxwell left his job, drafted a will, and even planned a funeral in case he died while waiting for the life-saving operation. It was not until after he contacted his local state MP, David Harris, that he underwent surgery in late January 2025 — 210 days after he was first added to the list. Mr Park apologised to Mr Maxwell through the media earlier this month, saying the 32-year-old's wait time was "not acceptable". "We let Joshua down," Mr Park said in sit-down interview with the ABC. "It's too long. It's not acceptable, and I apologise to him and his family." But Mr Maxwell said in the two weeks since his story was made public, he has received no follow-up from the minister or hospital management. Mr Maxwell has written a letter to Mr Park, stating he is not "ready to accept any apologies offered". "It's disheartening … I think an apology needs to be made in person or in writing, not via the media," he said. A spokesperson from the health minister's office said Mr Park "will respond to Josh's correspondence in due course". "Minister Park receives a large volume of correspondence and attempts to respond to them as quickly as possible," they said. Earlier this month, Mr Park said wait times in the state's public hospital system were keeping him up at night, and that he was serious about tackling the issue. He pointed to a decrease in surgery list wait times in May, with the number of patients decreasing from 8,587 to 5,400 in May. This year's state budget also allocated $23 million to tackle overdue surgeries, helping to fund extra staffing required to keep operating theatres open. But Mr Maxwell said the lack of contact from the minister made him question the sincerity of Mr Park's commitment. "It's clearly a massive statewide issue and taking it seriously needs to be more than just making a few statements in the press and going back to your office and going, 'here, staffer number two, you deal with it now'," Mr Maxwell said. In his letter to Mr Park, he called for clearer prioritisation of surgeons' wait time preferences and a statewide patient care team for patients on longer public wait lists, doing weekly or monthly checks with patients. "I would happily meet with you, your team, the department, or the hospital to discuss these matters — especially to better understand what went wrong in my case and why no one has addressed it with me personally," Mr Maxwell wrote.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Unfair NHS waiting lists' revealed in official report
More than half of the overall NHS waiting list for non urgent treatment in England is made up of people of working age (19 to 64), the first official deep dive into inequalities in waiting lists has found. The data shows, for those aged 18 to 64, waiting lists for gynaecology are the biggest. And women make up a higher proportion of those waiting (57%), compared to men, in all cases where sex is recorded. NHS England officials say the figures should help hospitals address "unfair waits" for planned care among the communities who wait the longest. NHS trusts are being asked to use the data to understand and reduce inequalities faced by patients. Patients in the poorest communities and those from Asian or Asian British backgrounds are more likely to wait longer than 18 weeks than any other group, the report says. Some 3.1% of patients living in the most deprived areas were waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June compared to 2.7% in the least deprived. Figures show:56% of the overall waiting list is made up of people aged 19 to 64a third of those waiting are aged 65 and overamong over 65s, ophthalmology has the greatest backlogwomen are more likely to be waiting over 18 weeks for treatment than menwomen are also more likely than men to wait for more than 52 weeksHealth and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem."He added that the recently announced 10 year health plan would tackle health inequalities by diverting billions of pounds to working class communities, and provide targeted care to all patients where they live, via a neighbourhood health centres will be rolled out first in places where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including deindustrialised cities and coastal towns. Gynaecology has had one of the worst waiting lists across the UK for a number of Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "At the moment, women in the most deprived areas face some of the longest waits, threatening to entrench existing health inequalities."Delays can lead to a need for more complex treatment and significantly impact women's health, wellbeing, and daily lives."She added that it has been encouraging to see wait lists begin to fall in recent months, with NHS staff "working tirelessly" to deliver more appointments.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS waiting lists: Working age people a growing proportion of those needing help
People of working age are making up a growing proportion of those on the NHS waiting list for treatment in England, according to analysis. Data tables published for the first time by NHS England also show people in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than those in the least deprived. The figures, analysed by the PA news agency, show 56.1% of those on the list at the end of June this year were of working age (defined as age 19 to 64), up from 55.8% a year ago and 55.0% in June 2022. At the same time, the proportion of people on the waiting list under the age of 19 has fallen, standing at 10.8% in June this year, down from 11.2% a year earlier and 11.9% in June 2022. The proportion who are over 65 has remained broadly unchanged at around 33.1%. People of working age are also more likely to have to wait more than a year to start treatment (3.0% of patients in this age group at the end of June) than those over 65 (2.5%). However, the proportion is the same as those under 19 (also 3.0%). Meanwhile, people in the most deprived parts of England also face long waits for treatment when compared with those in the wealthiest areas. And for data where sex is recorded, women make up a higher percentage of the waiting list (57%) compared with men (43%). Women are also more likely to be waiting more than 18 and 52 weeks than men. On deprivation, some 3.1% of patients living in the most deprived areas had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, compared with 2.7% in the least deprived. The gap is even wider in some regions, with the figures for the Midlands ranging from 3.0% in the most deprived parts to 2.4% in the least deprived; from 2.4% to 1.8% in London; and from 4.9% to 4.0% in eastern England. The data also shows patients in certain ethnic groups are more likely to have to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than in others. Some 3.2% of patients in England identifying as Bangladeshi had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, along with 3.0% of patients of Pakistani and African backgrounds, higher proportions than those identifying as Caribbean (2.9%), Chinese (2.8%), British (2.8%) or Indian (2.7%). Eastern England and south-west England are the regions with the largest ethnicity gap for people waiting more than a year to begin hospital treatment. The Government has announced new neighbourhood health centres in its 10-year plan for the NHS, which will be targeted first at the places where healthy life expectancy is lowest. According to the Department of Health, this includes 'de-industrialised cities and coastal towns, reducing the estimated £240-£330 billion cost of sickness to the economy.' Some 20 'further faster' teams have also been sent in to those NHS trusts with the longest waits to try to bring them down. The new data shows the largest specialty for those on the waiting list aged 18-64 is gynaecology (12% of all 18 to 64-year-olds), while it is ophthalmology for older adults. Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 'We inherited an NHS which after years of neglect had left all patients worse off – but some more than others. 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem. 'We will give all patients the care they need when they need it as part of our Plan for Change. 'Our 10-Year Health Plan will tackle health inequalities faced across the country, diverting billions of pounds to working-class communities, and providing truly targeted, bespoke care to all patients where they live via the neighbourhood health service.' Stella Vig, NHS national clinical director for elective care, said: 'Understanding patient demographics is vital if we are to identify and tackle the way different groups are treated. 'As well as allowing patients and the public to see the makeup of local lists, NHS teams will be able to analyse the latest data, understand where there is unwarranted variation in waiting times, and work with their communities to take action to reduce it.' Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: 'This is a great step in making ethnic health inequities more visible. 'Without robust, consistent data and transparency about what's happening in the healthcare system, we will not be able to enable genuine equitable decision making in the NHS, nor tackle and eradicate ethnic and racial inequalities in health in a sustained and meaningful way.' It comes as the Government announced that patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis from next year. Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to charities and support organisations in a move the Government says will 'complement, not replace', NHS care.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
NHS waiting lists: Working age people a growing proportion of those needing help
People of working age are making up a growing proportion of those on the NHS waiting list for treatment in England, according to analysis. Data tables published for the first time by NHS England also show people in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than those in the least deprived. The figures, analysed by the PA news agency, show 56.1% of those on the list at the end of June this year were of working age (defined as age 19 to 64), up from 55.8% a year ago and 55.0% in June 2022. At the same time, the proportion of people on the waiting list under the age of 19 has fallen, standing at 10.8% in June this year, down from 11.2% a year earlier and 11.9% in June 2022. The proportion who are over 65 has remained broadly unchanged at around 33.1%. People of working age are also more likely to have to wait more than a year to start treatment (3.0% of patients in this age group at the end of June) than those over 65 (2.5%). However, the proportion is the same as those under 19 (also 3.0%). Meanwhile, people in the most deprived parts of England also face long waits for treatment when compared with those in the wealthiest areas. And for data where sex is recorded, women make up a higher percentage of the waiting list (57%) compared with men (43%). Women are also more likely to be waiting more than 18 and 52 weeks than men. On deprivation, some 3.1% of patients living in the most deprived areas had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, compared with 2.7% in the least deprived. The gap is even wider in some regions, with the figures for the Midlands ranging from 3.0% in the most deprived parts to 2.4% in the least deprived; from 2.4% to 1.8% in London; and from 4.9% to 4.0% in eastern England. The data also shows patients in certain ethnic groups are more likely to have to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than in others. Some 3.2% of patients in England identifying as Bangladeshi had been waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June, along with 3.0% of patients of Pakistani and African backgrounds, higher proportions than those identifying as Caribbean (2.9%), Chinese (2.8%), British (2.8%) or Indian (2.7%). Eastern England and south-west England are the regions with the largest ethnicity gap for people waiting more than a year to begin hospital treatment. The Government has announced new neighbourhood health centres in its 10-year plan for the NHS, which will be targeted first at the places where healthy life expectancy is lowest. According to the Department of Health, this includes 'de-industrialised cities and coastal towns, reducing the estimated £240-£330 billion cost of sickness to the economy.' Some 20 'further faster' teams have also been sent in to those NHS trusts with the longest waits to try to bring them down. The new data shows the largest specialty for those on the waiting list aged 18-64 is gynaecology (12% of all 18 to 64-year-olds), while it is ophthalmology for older adults. Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 'We inherited an NHS which after years of neglect had left all patients worse off – but some more than others. 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem. 'We will give all patients the care they need when they need it as part of our Plan for Change. 'Our 10-Year Health Plan will tackle health inequalities faced across the country, diverting billions of pounds to working-class communities, and providing truly targeted, bespoke care to all patients where they live via the neighbourhood health service.' Stella Vig, NHS national clinical director for elective care, said: 'Understanding patient demographics is vital if we are to identify and tackle the way different groups are treated. 'As well as allowing patients and the public to see the makeup of local lists, NHS teams will be able to analyse the latest data, understand where there is unwarranted variation in waiting times, and work with their communities to take action to reduce it.' Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: 'This is a great step in making ethnic health inequities more visible. 'Without robust, consistent data and transparency about what's happening in the healthcare system, we will not be able to enable genuine equitable decision making in the NHS, nor tackle and eradicate ethnic and racial inequalities in health in a sustained and meaningful way.' It comes as the Government announced that patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis from next year. Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to charities and support organisations in a move the Government says will 'complement, not replace', NHS care.
The Independent
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Mental health care ‘being rationed' over failure to cut spiralling waiting list, top doctor warns
Mental health care is being rationed because the government is failing to tackle the spiralling waiting list, the UK's top psychiatrist has warned, with 48,000 people waiting more than two years for treatment to start. Nearly 1.7 million people were waiting for community care, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist appointment, for treatments including everything from severe depression to serious personality disorders at the end of December 2024. That is up from 1.3 million in March 2024 and is in addition to the 7.4 million people on the national NHS waiting list, which only counts patients with physical health problems. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the figures proved mental health care was being downgraded in favour of other services. She said: 'It's very clear that there has been a prioritisation of services; mental healthcare is not one of those services. As far as I'm concerned, it's been rationed for years. It's not been prioritised, full stop. I say that because you know, we've got we have 1.7 million people who were waiting for mental health services. 'They are not being prioritised and so there is rationing of mental healthcare, full stop.' Last week, the government launched its 10-year plan for the future of the NHS, which recommits to previous promises to expand mental health teams in schools and create specialist mental health A&Es across the country. However, it does not make commitments to reduce the number of people already waiting to be seen. It comes as the latest figures reveal: As of April, 10,198 adults were waiting more than two years for treatment to start with community mental health teams Some 35,735 children and young people were waiting more than two years for a second contact Delayed discharges from hospital units hit a post-Covid record of 53,000, up from 27,000 in March 2020 In October, a record 2.9 million people were in contact with mental health services A post-pandemic record of 7.8 million antidepressant NHS prescriptions were issued in December 2024 Fewer than 5 per cent of people who need NHS counselling have been able to access it this year The Labour government was recently criticised for dropping the previous Tory government's commitment to grow mental health funding at the same rate or more than the overall NHS budget to tackle the inequality in investment. Dr Smith said it was 'simply illogical' not to invest in good mental healthcare, as it drives productivity and economic growth. Meanwhile, the NHS's director for mental health, Claire Murdoch, said the lack of sufficient care in the community was driving more people to A&E, by which time, patients have often been in crisis for weeks or months without help. She added: '[That] I think is a bigger scandal than a slightly long A&E wait - if people are losing weeks or months of their lives because we don't have housing or community packages.' Addressing the lack of equality in mental health waiting lists compared to physical health, Ms Murdoch said: 'Our waiting lists are as important as any waiting list…When waiting lists are at the same level as any other parity will have been achieved.' Sarah, 52, a single mother of three, told The Independent of the 'horrific' experience of seeing her autistic teenage daughter, Bay, who was forced to live on a mental health ward for almost two months because there was no community care for her. WHEN Bay, who has autism, was first admitted to a children's mental health unit in London when she was 16 years old. Her mental health declined, and her behaviour became 'increasingly unpredictable' during the pandemic after the family moved to London from South Africa, Sarah said. Despite numerous appointments with child and adolescent mental health services in the community, Bay's care was 'fragmented and inadequate', her mother said. In 2023, as her mental health began to seriously deteriorate, Bay was taken to A&E after she threatened to harm herself. She spent 24 hours there before being admitted to an inpatient unit where she remained for 46 days. Her mother said she was held in the hospital as they could not find an appropriate residential placement for her, and it was not safe for her to return home. Two months later, a place was eventually found for her in supported accommodation. She said, 'It was horrific. I felt helpless. I'm not a psychiatrist or therapist, and autistic children with mental health issues are often just contained, not supported, and this needs to change.' 'Autistic children are special. We need a different approach — using creativity, understanding sensory needs, offering proper support, not just containment. One positive was that when Bay was in the hospital, it was the first time in a long, long time that I felt that she was safe and that I could breathe. Before that, I had needed to watch her and keep us safe 24 hours a day.' Sarah Wakeling, CEO at Positive Support Group, which supported Bay at home, said: "Our new analysis underlines the growing pressure on NHS mental health services and the urgent need to rethink how we provide support for these people. The NHS has recently committed to opening new mental health A&Es. But just as important is addressing gaps in early intervention, specialist education, and community-based mental health care – so that we can help people before they need urgent care.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Our commitment to improving this through our Plan for Change is clear. We have announced £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres, are recruiting an extra 8,500 mental health staff, and expanding mental health support teams in schools across England to cover all pupils by 2029-30.' 'We are also funding the expansion of NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support schemes, and modernising the Mental Health Act to ensure people with the most severe conditions receive better, more personalised treatment.'
